Apparatus for applying fasteners to envelopes



Dec. 25, 1962 D. F. MEAD Em 3,069,683

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed April 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1962 D. F. MEAD EI'AL 3,069,683

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed April 22, 1960 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 ILEJih Dec. 25, 1962 D. F. MEAD ETAL 3,069,683

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FASTENERS T0 ENVELOPES Filed April 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,1 .50 774 e4 ailer; )4 MY/er.

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United States Patent ()fiiice 3,069,683 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,069,683 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FASTENERS T ENVELOPES Donald F. Mead, Livonia, and Delbert V. Miller, Fair Haven, Mich, assignors to The Wolf Detroit Envelope Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 24,054 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) This invention relates to envelopes, and more particularly to apparatus for applying snap fasteners to the bodies and flaps of correspondence, merchandise or shipping envelopes on a mass production basis.

The mounting of two-part snap fasteners of the studand-socket type to the bodies and flaps of paper envelopes on a high production 'basis has been found to present considerable problems which it is a general object of the present invention to overcome. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved method and apparatus which permits the rapid application of snap fasteners to envelopes without the need for complicated or cumbersome equipment for positioning the stud and socket on the envelope parts, and securing them in position.

It is another object to provide an improved apparatus of the above character which is simple and reliable in operation, requires a minimum of maintenance and may bequickly and easily adjusted to accommodate different envelope sizes.

It is a further object to provide an improved snap fastener applying mechanism of this nature which insures quick, positive and accurate locating of the envelopes before the fastener parts are applied so as to achieve uniform location of the fasteners, and prevent undesired angular misalignment of the envelopes during transport.

It is also an object to provide a snap fastener applying apparatus having the above characteristics, which is adapted for use with standard envelope handling components, and is relatively inexpensive to fabricate.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the snap fastener applying apparatus of this invention, showing the main cam and drive shaft, the storage and feeding means, and the locations of the stud and socket applying stations;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the machine looking from its exit end (the right-hand end of FIGURE 1) and from the other side of the machine from that shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating the advancing belt and rollers as well as the station discharge rollers and their associated parts;

FIGURE 3 is a partially schematic and incomplete cross-sectional view in elevation taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and showing certain basic components of the apparatus, including the advancing belt, a station dischagge roller, the lateral positioning shaft and the lateral glll FIGURE 4 is a partially schematic fragmentary plan view showing the manner in which an envelope engages the lateral guide; and

FIGURE 5 is a detailed partially schematic fragmentary elevational view showing in exaggerated form an arrangement for preventing angular shifting or misalignment of relatively small envelopes being advanced by the advancing belt.

In general terms, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an elongated frame having conventional means at one end for storing envelopes in stacked fashion and discharging them singly in quick succession. An endless advancing belt extends along the frame, the envelopes moving between this belt and a plurality of rollers arranged in tandem above the belt. The envelopes are disposed with their fiaps unfolded and extending laterally from one side of the frame throughout their advancing movement. Two longitudinally spaced fastener applying stations are located on said one side of the frame for applying the fastener stud and socket respectively. In this manner, the fastener applying means may be of relatively simple construction, since the body and flap of the envelope are directly accessible. A stop is provided at each station for fixing the envelope position in a longitudinal direction, and a constantly rotating lateral positioning shaft is provided for urging the envelopes against a lateral stop, the envelope not engaging this lateral stop until its longitudinal movement has been halted at each station. Coordinated cam means are provided for retracting the longitudinal stop and discharging the envelope from each station after the fastener applying operation at that station has been completed. Means are also included in the mechanism for properly supporting and positioning various sizes of envelopes, and for'adjusting the locations of the various machine components in accordance with such size variations.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus is generally indicated at 11 and comprises a frame generally indicated at 12 having legs 13 and a base 14 supported by the legs. Frame 12 is of elongated generally rectangular shape and supports a main shaft 15 disposed below base 14- and carried by spaced bearings 16. A motor 17 supported by a platform 18 below shaft 15 drives the shaft through reduction gearing and a clutch 19 operated by a handle 21.

A storage and feeding mechanism generally indicated at 22 and of generally conventional construction is supported at one end of base 14 and includes means for holding envelopes in stacked relation and feeding them singly in quick succession to an advancing conveyor generally indicated at 23 which extends above base 14. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, feed mechanism 22 has a shaft 24 disposed transversely with respect to the machine and rotatably supported by standards 25. The feed mechanism has a rack 26 for holding envelopes 27 in stacked relation with the open flaps 28 of the envelopes to the right, as seen in FIGURE 2. A pair of feed wheels 29 are carried by shaft 24, these feed wheels carrying conventional means (not shown) for gripping an envelope during each rotation of the Wheel and pulling the envelope downwardly (With counterclockwise rotation of shaft 24 as seen in FIGURE 1). A bar 31 carrying a suction tube 32 is pivotally mounted between standards 25 and is controllable by a cam 33, the grippers on wheels 29 being controlled by a cam 34. Application of vacuum to tube 32 may be controlled by another cam (not shown) on the right-hand end of shaft 24 as seen. in FIGURE 2. The arrangement is such that envelopes 27 will be de posited on conveyor 23 with their openings above flaps 23.

Advancing conveyor 23 comprises an endless belt 35 supported at opposite ends of base 14 by pulleys 36. The pulley at the exit end of apparatus 11 (the righ hand end in FIGURE 1) is on a shaft 37 driven from motor 17 by a gear chain drive 38. Belt 35 cooperates with means later described to advance envelopes 27, but an additional belt 39 may be mounted in spaced parallel relation with belt 35 for supporting portions of larger sized envelopes. Belt 39 is seen in FIGURE 2 and is supported by pulleys 41, the pulley on shaft 37 driving the belt. However, belt 39 will not be used for advancing the envelopes as will belt 35,

The apparatus is provided with two stations, indicated at I and II in FIGURE 1. Snap fastener applying heads 42 and 43 are located at stations I and II respectively,

station II being longitudinally spaced from station I in the direction of the exit end of the apparatus. Heads 42 and 43 will not be described in detail, since they do not in themselves form part of the present invention. However, they are intended to apply the stud and socket of a conventional type of snap fastener to the envelope body and flap respectively. Such a fastener is shown, for example, in Johnson Patent No. 2,585,897.

'Heads 42 and 43 are mounted on the right-hand side of frame 12 as seen in FIGURE 2, or on the far side as seen in FIGURE 1. Because of the novel arrangement of positioning and advancing the envelopes, namely with the opened flaps extending from one side transversely to the direction of movement and with the envelope opening above the flap, heads 42 and 43 have easy access to the envelope portions to receive the fastener parts. For example, FIGURE 3 shows portions 44, 45 and 46 of head 42 used to apply the stud to envelope body 27. This head includes an anvil 44 below the outer end of body 27, a reciprocable die 45 above the anvil, and a flat elongated stud feeding member 46 movable into position within the envelope opening. Head 42 may also include a compressed air connection (not clearly visible in the drawings) which will operate at the proper time to open the envelope so that member 46 may be inserted. Heads 42 and 43 are operable by separate motors (not shown), the connection between these motors and their respective driven parts being controlled by electrically operated clutches (also not shown) energized in timed relation with the other parts of apparatus 11. A jack shaft 47 extending transversely to shaft (FIGURE 1) may carry a cam (also not shown) for controlling the air connection to head 42, this shaft also driving shaft 24 through a chain drive 48. Head 43 likewise has an anvil 49, a socket feeder 51 and a reciprocable die 52.

The means for frictionally holding envelopes 27 against belt 35 comprises a plurality of rollers 53. These rollers are disposed above belt 35 in tandem relation and each roller is carried by a shaft 54 mounted on an arm 55. This arm is pivotally carried by a bracket 56 secured by a wing nut 57 to a flat support 58 extending above base 14. Support 58 is carried by a pair of C-shaped brackets 59 and 61 seen in FIGURE 1, and brackets 56 are adjustable to any longitudinal position along bar 58 or are removable from the bar along with their associated rollers. Coil compression springs 62 are mounted between each arm 55 and bracket 56 so as to urge rollers 53, which may be of rubber or similar frictional material, against belt 35. The underside of belt 35 is supported by a plurality of rollers 63 carried between plates 64 and 65 r on opposite sides of belt 35; this is shown in FIGURE 3. For smaller sizes of envelopes 27, appropriate rollers 53 may be disposed between rollers 63, as seen in FIGURE 5, to minimize or prevent angular shifting movement of the envelope because of the slight dip formed in it, shown in exaggerated form in FIGURE 5, and the subsequent increased gripping effect.

Means are provided at each station for stopping the longitudinal movement of each envelope 27 so that its centerline (extending transversely to its direction of advance) will be aligned with the centerline of head 42 or 43. The stopping means is indicated generally at 66 and is best seen in FIGURES l and 4. It includes a vertically movable T-shaped member 67 carrying a cam follower roller 68 at its lower end (FIGURE 1) and a pair of laterally spaced stop rods 69 and 71 at its upper end. Follower 68 is engageable with a cam 72 on shaft 15', this cam preferably being of a split type so as to have an adjustable length of dwell. Stop rods 69 and 71 each has a horizontal main portion receivable in any one of a number of apertures 73 in the upper end of member 67, the rods being held in position by set screws 74. Ends 75 of rods 69, which face the advancing envelopes 27, are bent upwardly to form a pair of stops engageable by the forward edge of each envelope, as seen in FIGURE 4. Stop 66 is movable between a lower or retracted position, and an upper position in which portions 75 of rods 69 and 71 are in obstructing relation with the envelopes. The locations of apertures 73 are such that rods 69 and 71 may be placed closer together or further apart depend ing upon the length of envelopes 27.

One roller 76 is provided at station I which is fabricated of steel or otherwise made with a smooth outer surface. This is the roller which gives envelope 27 its final push before its forward edge hits stop portions 75. Normally, the centerline 77 of roller 76 will be so selected, by adjustment of bracket 56, as to be spaced from centerline 78, representing the aligned envelope and head centerlines, a distance equal to the spacing of stop portions 75 from centerline 78. In other words, rods 69 and 71 on the one hand, and roller 76 on the other hand, will be adjusted toward or away from each other depending upon the size of envelope 27, so as to be symmetrical about head axis '78, thereby insuring that the envelopes will be located properly with respect to the head when considered in the direction of advance of the envelopes.

Means are provided for accurately locating each envelope 27 in a lateral direction. This means includes a lateral stop 79 carried by an angle iron member 81 which extends along the left side of apparatus 11 as seen in FIGURE 2. Stop 79 comprises a bar of square or rectangular cross-sectional shape having a stop surface 82 facing envelopes 27, member 81 being adjustable in a lateral direction to properly locate surface 82. The end 83 of surface 82, which is closest to the advancing envelopes, is relieved as indicated in FIGURE 4.

When the envelopes are carried in stacking support 26, their edges 84 are so located as to be spaced a slight distance from stop surface 82 in a lateral direction. This is seen in FIGURE 4, which shows envelope 27 in dotdash lines in its position as it approaches the station I location. A constantly rotating lateral positioning shaft 85 is mounted beneath the envelopes and extends along the machine, the upper surface of this shaft moving in a downward direction as seen in FIGURE 4 (clockwise in FIGURE 3). This shaft, which may be knurled as shown in the area indicated at 86 in FIGURE 4 beneath the envelopes at stations I and II to improve friction, will shift each envelope against stop 79 as soon as the envelope is released from roller 76. The smooth surface of roller 76 will prevent any possibility of friction which might prevent accurate lateral shifting of the envelope. In order to create proper bearing pressure of envelopes 27 against shaft 85, a cage 87 is provided above shaft 85 at stations I and II, this cage carrying a plurality of balls 88 hearing with their weight against the envelopes. Cage 87 may be carried by a bracket 89 secured to member 58. Depending upon the lengths of envelopes 27, an additional longitudinal guide bar 91 may be disposed between cages 87 and member 81. In any event, the end 92 of each envelope 27 will rest on the ledge 93 formed by angle iron 81 inwardly of stop 79. Shaft 85 is driven by shaft 15 through a belt drive 94, preferably at a rate faster than that of shaft 15.

Means are also provided for discharging each envelope 27 from station I or station II after the operation at that station has been completed. In the case of station I, this means includes a discharge roller 95 of frictional material disposed above the envelope at station I and movable downwardly from an upper retracted position toward a discharge position in engagement with the envelope and pressing the envelope against belt 35. Roller 95 is carried by a bracket 96 movable by a solenoid '97, this solenoid being carried by member 58, as seen in FIGURE 3. A cam 98 on shaft 15 controls switch means for energizing solenoid 97 in coordination with the other components of the unit. Roller 95 will engage envelope 27 immediately after stop 66 has been withdrawn, and will feed the envelope toward and under the next roller 53 as seen in FIGURE 4.

The elements in the vicinity of station II are generally similar to those at station I. A stop 99 similar to stop 66 is provided, this stop being shiftable by a split earn 101 on shaft 15. A steel final drive roller 102 for station II is also provided so that the envelope may be shifted laterally by shaft 85 against a stop 103, seen in FIGURE 4. Stop 103 at station II is somewhat narrower than stop 79 so that envelope 27 will be clear of stop 183 as it advances into position in station II, thereby eliminating the possibility of angular shifting of the envelope during its advancing movement. A discharge roller 104 operated by a solenoid 105 is also provided, energization of solenoid 105 being controlled by a cam 106 on shaft 15. As in the case of station I, roller 192 and stop 99 will be adjustable toward and away from each other so as to be symmetrical about the centerline of head 43 for different sizes of envelopes. Envelopes being discharged from the exit end of the machine may be received by a lateral conveyor 107, indicated in FIGURE 1, which conveyor may be driven from motor 17.

In setting up apparatus 11 for operation, holder 26 will be set so as to feed envelopes 27 onto conveyor 23 wiih edges 84 of the envelopes slightly spaced from stop 79 at station I in a lateral direction. Stop 66 and roller 76 at station I, as Well as stop 99 and roller 102 at station II, will be positioned symmetrically with respect to the axes of heads 42 and 43 respectively. The cam and other adjustments of the apparatus discussed above, including the positions of rollers 53, will also be made.

In operation, envelopes 27 will be fed in single succession from feeder 22 to conveyor 23 and will be advanced along the conveyor by being gripped between belt 35 and rollers 53. Just as envelope 27 leaves steel roller 76 it will hit stop 66 which will have moved to its raised or stopping position. Rotating shaft 85 will then shift the envelope laterally until it hits stop 79. Head 42, as controlled by a cam 1&8 on shaft 15, will then apply a stud to the body of envelope 27 as seen in FIGURE 3, the envelope being held in position by urging of shaft 85. As the components of head 42 are retracted, cam 98 will operate solenoid 97 to lower discharge roller 95, pressing envelope 27 against belt 35. Roller 95 will be moved downwardly only momentarily, this movement occurring immediately after stop 66 moves downwardly to its retracted position. Envelope 27 will be gripped by the next roller 53 and advanced to station II where it will be stopped and shifted laterally in a manner similar to that which occurs at station I. A cam 109 controlling of course occur in rapid succession on sucessively advancing envelopes.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for applying snap fasteners to envelopes, a conveyor, means supporting and feeding envelopes onto one end of said conveyor with the flap sections and adjacent body sections of the envelopes extending laterally with respect to the direction of conveyor movernent to one side thereof, first and second stations on said side of the conveyor at longitudinally spaced locations therealong, means at the first of said stations for applying a snap fastener component to one of said envelope sections, means at the second station for applying the other snap faslener component to the other of said envelope sections, a first stationary lateral stop opposite said first station and on the other side of said conveyor, a second stationary lateral stop opposite said second station and on said other side of the conveyor, and means at said stations responsive to arrival of each envelope at each station for urging the envelope laterally against the corresponding stationary lateral stop.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said second lateral stop being spaced slightly further from said conveyor than said first lateral stop.

3. The combination according to claim 2, said conveyor comprising an endless belt, said lateral urging means comprising a constantly rotating shaft extending parallel to said belt and engageable with said envelope, and a low friction roller above said conveyor belt adjacent each station, whereby lateral shifting of each en velope by said constantly rotating shaft will be unrestrained.

4. In an apparatus for applying snap fasteners to envelopes, a conveyor, first and second fastener applying heads at longitudinally spaced locations on one side of said conveyor corresponding to first and second stations respectively, a feeder at one end of said conveyor for feeding envelopes onto said conveyor in single succession with the open flaps of said envelopes extending laterally toward said one side of the conveyor and the opposite edges of said envelopes being at a predetermined location regarded in a lateral direction, a first stationary lateral stop at said first station spaced a slight lateral distance from said predetermined envelope edge location, longitudinal stop means for stopping the longitudinal advance of said envelope at said first station, means responsive to stopping of said envelope at said first station for shifting said envelope laterally against said first lateral stop, means responsive to application of a first fastener component at said first station by said first head for dis charging the envelope from said first station, a second stationary lateral stop at said second station spaced a slight lateral distance from the first lateral stop, second longitudinal stop means at said second station, means responsive to arrival of said envelope at said second longitudinal stop for again shifting said envelope laterally against said second lateral stop, and means responsive to application of a second fastener component at said second station by said second head for discharging the envelope from said second station.

5. The combination according to claim 4, said conveyor comprising an endless belt, a plurality of spaced rollers supporting said conveyor belt, and rollers above said conveyor belt for engaging said envelopes and org ing the envelopes against the conveyor belt, certain of said last-mentioned rollers being located. between rollers beneath said conveyor belt, whereby a slight downward convexity will be imparted to envelopes travelling along the conveyor belt as they pass under said certain rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,732 NOViCk July 29, 1930 2,269,954 Novick Jan. 13, 1942 2,772,416 Dorosz Dec. 4, 1956 

